WANTAGH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Thursday was a gorgeous day for a bike ride, but Long Islanders know that they can’t ride their bikes to the beach, because the state-run bike trails stop short of the beach.

On an island surrounded by water, bike riders don’t have an ocean view. They can bike along many parkways, but not along the beach. But change is en route.

Wheels are also turning to link up existing trails with Jones Beach. Currently, the trail ends prematurely, and bikers have to park and walk the last mile.

“You have to stop three-quarters of a mile from the beach, and then trudge through the very hot parking lot with your kids and your stuff to get to the beach,” said Michael Vitti of Long Island Greenways and Healthy Trails. “It isn’t a very good experience.”

But a $1 million solution is coming. The bike trail is being expanded, and it will allow bikers to go that extra mile directly to the ocean.

“The last mile is sometimes the best mile,” McDonald said. “It links the seven miles of parkway that are already built directly to the beach.”